#the sea beast fen

[butterfly87676]

the sea beast but it just fen and add old nick there.

I wonder how they save Jacob while he was unconscious in the water??.

[ariannalitvin]

Art dump heehuhuhu

i don't own Cordelia or Oshun :( Cordelia belongs to @butterfly87676 and Oshun belongs to @jomcdidi

IGNORE MY BROWN LITTLE FINGER UP THERE

and i sorta fucked up the drawing of Oshun, please don't talk about that...

[tswaney17]

I Do Bad Things with You - Part 43

It's aliveeeeeee!!! 🙌 I can't even begin to describe how off my game I've been trying to write. I've had the entirety of IDBTWY written for months, but I honestly hated my writing, and editing was such a chore. I'm still not completely in love, but we need to push past so we can finally close this beast. I am slowly working through my creative drought, and hope to have some consistent content coming soon!

Also, credit to @123moiaussi for the "superseed" comment. 😉

My fanfic account: @tswaney17fics​​​

My ao3 account: tswaney17

Please let me know what you think about this update. I love getting your feedback. Constructive criticism is always welcome. 💕

Catch up here.

Credit to @featherymalignancy for Cassian’s nickname, Cash. 😘

Trigger warnings: violence, sexual assault , language, NSFW

Word Count: 6,187

Elain was sitting in the waiting room of the OBGYN office, knee bouncing nervously. This was her first-trimester check-up and she just wanted to make sure that everything was okay. Her nausea had been pretty awful over the last few weeks and she had grown excessively tired—to the point that she had to talk with Thesan about reducing her surgical procedures so she could keep a clear head.

She hated having to do that, not wanting to disappoint her boss just after she reached her attending level earlier that year. But Thesan took it in stride, helping to arrange her schedule to fit what she was comfortable doing and ensuring she had time to take proper meal breaks and rest when she needed it. He rearranged schedules and let her take on leading the resident interns full-time, allowing her to take some of the stress off by guiding them through procedures and running the ER.

He had come into her hospital room after she collapsed to check on her, and she knew she couldn’t keep it from him after what had happened in the operating room. Her boss had been ecstatic, congratulating them both.

It had been about a month since they found out they were pregnant, and she was now sitting at around seven and a half weeks along. She and Azriel decided to keep the news to themselves until she reached week twelve, just to play it safe, and Elain wished she could say they had been successful in their endeavors. But, her boss knew, and Viviane knew. The Moonbeam twins found out two weeks ago when she and Fenrys had exited the elevator of their building and Connall’s breakfast sandwich sent her hurdling for the nearest trashcan. Fen had been quick to slide her hair back, holding it above her head as she heaved. Stepping off the elevator a few minutes later, a startled and confused Azriel took in the sight of Connall and then heard her retching. He instantly was at her side, taking her hair from Fenrys, and running his hand down her back.

“What is in that sandwich,” he demanded.

Blind-sighted, Con rambled out ingredients. “Bacon, cheese, spinach, and egg.”

Elain gagged at the word egg, her stomach violently rolling from the name. “Get rid of it,” she moaned, still leaning into the disgusting garbage.

The dark-haired twin had swallowed the remains of his meal in three large bites.

It took effort to push herself off the trash bin, falling into the comforting embrace of Az’s strong arms that he wrapped around her.

He cupped the side of her face, tucking her under his chin, and let her thumb swoop over the apple of her cheek, the touch gentle and soothing. “Do you want your tea,” he murmured, lips pressing into her hair.

Unable to voice it answer, she dipped her chin.

Fenrys was already on the ground before them, pulling her coffee mug from her bag that she dropped and handing it to Azriel.

Her husband brought the mug up to her lips and allowed her to sip, the peppermint hitting her stomach and calming the raging sea. His hazel eyes glanced at her, a question simmering in them, and read the answer she didn’t even need to speak. “Elain’s pregnant,” he told the twins. “It’s still very early and we’re trying to keep it close to the chest for now, but please don’t bring eggs anywhere near her.”

Her body shuddered at that damn word again, but she managed to gain enough strength to pull herself from Azriel’s arms as she faced the Moonbeam brothers. “Sorry about that,” she said and felt her husband tense as she apologized for being sick. He’d been wildly adamant that she not apologize for the nausea, the cravings, or anything else she needed of him or anyone else. Not after having a meltdown because he went and got her something she asked for, only to start craving something else when he was out and feeling utterly ridiculous about it.

Connall seemed to snap from his shock first. “Congratulations to you both. And I apologize for the sandwich. I won’t bring anything around that has—”

“Please don’t say the word or I might hurl again,” she interrupted, fingertips touching her mouth like she’d hold it back. Fuck, even just the name of it sent her body quaking from the queasiness.

Fen chuckled. “Noted. Is there anything else that sets you off we should be made aware of?”

She shook her head no. “Nothing else that I know of yet.”

He nodded, a charming smile spreading his lips. “Let us know if anything changes. And congratulations on the pregnancy. I’m so happy for you both.”

And she could see it, the joy radiating on both of their faces. It made her heart swell with love for the two men who would likely become Uncle Fen and Uncle Con to their child.

The door opening caught her attention, pulling her from her reverie, and she met the gaze of the nurse who’d come to collect her. Elain glanced back at the elevator, waiting for her husband to show up. He was running late—something that was so very unlike him, which only added to her anxiety. She returned her attention to the nurse. “Can you give him another couple of minutes?”

It wasn’t the first time she asked to delay her appointment and knew it couldn’t continue much longer.

The nurse—Maria as her name badge read—gave her a sad smile. “We really can’t delay much longer. There are a few appointments behind you.”

“Just a couple of minutes,” Elain practically begged.

Maria hedged, shuffling from foot to foot, uncomfortable by the request, but was saved from having to deny her by the elevator door sliding open and Azriel rushing out.

He was at her side instantly, taking her arm to help her stand as if she couldn’t do it herself. Elain had to remind him on occasion that she was not yet showing and could still move about the house without his assistance. “I’m so sorry I’m late. There was an accident downtown and I got caught right in the middle of traffic. I’ll leave a half hour earlier next time.” He leaned down to brush his lips to her cheek.

His presence immediately calmed her and she leaned into his touch.

Azriel, always in tune with her feelings, didn’t miss how she settled into him as they followed the nurse back, his arm slinking around her waist so he could touch his mouth to her ear. “Are you all right?” he asked her. Nothing ever got by him.

She nodded but knew he hadn’t bought it. Still, he let it slide, caressing her arm in a soothing gesture. The nurse took all her vitals and then handed her a gown to change into before the doctor arrived. Az helped her slip it on, tying the strings together for her before assisting her onto the table.

“You’re nervous,” he commented now that they were alone.

Elain blew out a breath. “A bit.”

He swept his thumb over her cheek. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know to be honest. Just want to make sure everything is growing healthy in there,” she said, patting her still-flat stomach. “No surprises.”

Az chuckled, kissing her temple. “I have no doubts that we have a healthy baby, love. Try not to fret.” His words seemed to calm her as she relaxed back onto the table.

A knock on the door announced the arrival of her doctor and she took a moment to introduce herself to her husband, shaking his hand.

“Okay, let’s get started. Elain, if you wouldn’t mind putting your feet into the stirrups.”

She took out the ultrasound wand, spreading lube on the tip, and Elain couldn’t help but smile at her husband’s confused face.

“All right, my dear. You should feel a little pressure,” her doctor said.

“I’m sorry, but I thought she was getting an ultrasound. What is that?” Azriel questioned.

Elain snorted lightly. “Az, it’s a transvaginal ultrasound. It goes inside, not on my belly.”

His eyes widened. “Well, the three baby books I’ve read didn’t discuss the differences in ultrasound types.”

Doctor Chen raised her brows. “You’ve read three baby books already?”

He shrugged. “I just like to be prepared.”

“You’re going to be a great father.”

The comment seemed to startle her husband. “Just because I’ve read a few books?”

Chen’s lips turned up at the corner. “Mr. Archeron-Knight, I can barely get most fathers to read one, let alone three. And before she’s even through the first trimester. Believe me when I say that I can tell who’s going to be well-adjusted to handling fatherhood.” Giving him a wink, she slipped the wand inside, making Elain’s grip on Azriel’s hand tighten slightly.

“All right, here we are,” Doctor Chen said, clicking a few buttons on the keyboard to bring up the monitor. A pitter-patter sound filled the air as she located the baby’s heartbeat.

Tears sprung into her eyes as that beautiful, perfect, innocent noise washed over her and she glanced up at her husband to see him sharing the same look as her. He leaned down to kiss her softly on the lips, the special moment between them growing with the touch of his mouth against hers.

“And here is your baby,” Chen announced, pointing to a little blip on the screen.

Elain’s dark gaze stared at that spot on the screen, feeling like her heart was about to burst with happiness. But when her eyes slid to her doctor, seeing the furrow in her brow, that joy dropped like a rock in her stomach.

Her doctor let out a small noise of contemplation, enough to catch Azriel’s attention. “What is it?” he asked, voice laced with demand and worry.

A few clicks on her keyboard had the screen adjusting, zooming out just slightly. She repositioned the wand inside of her, making her body tense. “Well, I think we should discuss multiple births. Because that right there,” she said, pointing to another blip on the screen, “is a second fetus.” She clicked a button again and two very distinct heartbeats surrounded them. Chen turned to look at them with a smile. “You’re having twins.”

If Elain thought her heart was racing before, it was absolutely pounding now, the sound rushing in her ears. Because there was just no way, no way, right? Twins? Twins! Her head swiveled to look up at her husband. “You and your fucking superseed!” she snarled.

“Elain!” Azriel chastised, looking torn between being guilty of impregnating her with two kids and amused about her foul language in front of the doctor. Mostly the latter.

Chen just laughed. “I’ve told many expecting parents they’re having twins over the years, but that was, by far, the best reaction I’ve ever seen.”

She had the decency to at least look embarrassed as she apologized to her doctor for her outburst, but she just waved her off.

After snapping a few pictures, she pulled the wand out, cleaned her up, and set the printed sonogram photos on the counter for them. “Everything looks good, Elain. You’re growing at an optimum level. I’ll go ahead and prescribe you some anti-nausea medicine that you can take in the morning and before bed for as long as you need it. Unless there are any concerns, you’re free to get dressed. The nurse at the front will schedule you for your next appointment.”

The door clicked shut softly behind her as she left and Elain felt the silence between her and Azriel like a weight on her chest.

He helped her sit up, but before she could slide off the table, he stepped in front of her, finger hooking under her chin to force her gaze to his. “Hey,” he said softly like he was afraid anything louder might startle her. “El, love, I know this is scary, but we can do this.”

“Twins, Azriel. Two kids. As in one whole being more than we even were planning for.”

His mouth quirked up at her zealous explanation. “I’m well aware of how twins work, baby.”

She glared at him for the comment.

But he ignored it, leaning down to capture her mouth in a sweet kiss. “Twins mean two beautiful children of our own. Twins mean twice the amount of love we will have. Twice the amount of joy they will be bringing into our lives. If there is anyone who can take on the challenge of having twins, it’s us. Don’t ever doubt that.”

His words settled inside of her, soothing the jagged worries of her heart into something perfectly beautiful. His confidence, his strength…it was exactly what she needed at that moment and he knew it.

Elain let out a heavy breath. “You’re changing all the diapers.”

He barked out a laugh, folding her into his arms. “I’m okay with that.”

~~~

They decided to wait until she reached the fifteen-week mark before they told their family the news. Azriel was ready to burst at week nine, but she managed to hold him off until now with just a little bit of persuasion.

A surprise to both of them was when Elain didn’t have her head in the toilet, she was horny as fuck. Azriel was running hard to keep up with her impressive sex drive. And that was saying something.

He reached out and took her hand across the center console, thumb brushing over her knuckles. “Are you nervous?” he asked, bringing the back of her palm to his lips.

She glanced at him, a soft smile pulling at her mouth. “No. I’m excited. I want to tell everyone about them.” Her hand rubbed over her swollen belly. Swollen was probably the best way to describe her appearance. Truthfully, she looked like she indulged in a very large, carb-based meal of pasta and was extremely bloated from it. Which, to be fair, with Azriel’s amazing skills in the kitchen, it was a fair assessment.

Elain opened her purse and slipped out the sonogram she had a few days before. The one that told them what they were having. Her eyes welled up with tears as her fingers stroked the black-and-white image. She was so blissfully happy. “I’m glad that they’re healthy. That was all I cared about.”

Az kissed the backside of her palm again. “Me too. And I’m happy they’ll be close to Sutton’s age so they can grow up together.”

“Do you think Feyre and Rhys will start thinking about having kids?” she asked, curious if he thought their other siblings might be feeling a touch of the baby fever.

He shrugged. “If they weren’t talking about it before, I’d say they will be now. Rhys has been wanting kids since practically in high school. He always wanted to be a father; better than his, though he wasn’t anything compared to mine.” The words hung between them for a minute before he asked her, “Do you have concerns about me becoming my father?” His voice dropped to a near whisper. Almost as if he were afraid of her answer.

Elain looked at him in shock. “Azriel, gods no. I know exactly the kind of father you’ll be, and it will not even remotely look like what you were given.”

His lips quirked up at the corner. “Yeah? And what kind of a father do you think I’ll be?”

She twisted in her seat to face him better. “You’re going to be the most devoted father because you’re already the most devoted husband. You’ll dote on those kids until they never have a wish or dream unfulfilled. You will love them fiercely—I mean, you already do and they’re still in my stomach,” she giggled lightly, rubbing her belly. “They are going to be the most spoiled children.”

At that, he laughed. “I can’t say you’re wrong. I don’t think I will be able to say ‘no’ to them at all.”

“Azriel, you can’t even tell me no,” she deadpanned.

“It’s just not in my vocabulary when it comes to you.”

Elain shook her head, eyes rolling as she twisted back in her seat to face forward again. She could see the restaurant down the street where they were meeting their siblings for lunch to tell them the news. “Well, I’m not going to take on the mean parent role just because you can’t say no.” She fiddled with her purse, sliding the image back inside. “We may need to find an alternative—” Screeching tires caught her attention and then she screamed, “Azriel! Watch out!”

The car lurched, sending her head sideways to slam against the side window. The last thing she heard was shattering glass as another car collided with them before everything went dark.

~~~~~

Azriel’s eyes blinked open, ears ringing loud enough to make him wince. His body ached across his chest and waist from the seat belt and as he shifted himself, he could tell nothing was seriously injured. Thankfully. He looked over at his wife, fear locking his heart in a deadly force. “Elain,” he murmured, voice hoarse.

Her head lay against the back of the seat, lulled to the side. She had a gash on her forehead, blood dribbling down her temple, and most of her right arm was scratched up from the shattered glass.

He tried to unbuckle his belt, but the damn thing was stuck. Pulling the knife Ruhn had gotten him from his pocket, he cut the fabric, releasing him, then reached over and did the same to Elain’s belt. A scarred hand slid to her cheek, cupping it gently, and then moved down to her throat, searching for his worst nightmare.

The relief he felt when her heartbeat pattered against his fingertips was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. “Elain,” he tried again, moving his palm back to her face. “Elain, sweetheart, open your eyes for me.” His tone took on a desperate sound as he willed her to wake.

Movement caught his eye, the sound of tires crunching on glass flooded him and he looked out the window to see the car that hit them, pulling back and fleeing. “Motherfucker,” he cursed, realizing that this was an intended accident. He had managed to jerk the wheel so Elain didn’t take the brunt of the impact, but it still slammed into the back door, shattering all the windows on her side.

A burning rage built in his gut, one that could not—would not—be stifled without blood. Whoever ordered this hit…

They were as good as dead.

Azriel refocused on his wife, fingers sweeping over her skin. He shoved that wrath building inside of him down until it was a flickering ember, something for him to let rage once he knew she was okay. “Elain, come on. Open your eyes for me.” He gently tapped her cheek, trying to get her to look at him. “Please, love. I need you to open your eyes. Elain.”

A groan passed through her lips, sending tears of relief cascading over his cheeks as her eyelids began fluttering.

“El, baby,” he cried, swooping his thumb across her smooth skin. He collected the soft sounds coming from her parted lips like precious gems, thanking every god for each one.

“Az.” Her voice cracked on his name. “What happened?” she asked, still coming into consciousness.

He shuffled closer, leaning over the center console to kiss her temple with a gentleness he reserved only for her. “We were in an accident, love. I need you to stay still until help gets here.” He felt her pulse kick up under his palm.

Elain’s breathing turned short. “Azriel…” her voice shook in fear. “Az, the babies.”

His heart wrenched, hoping and praying that everything was all right. After all that they had been through, he didn’t think he could handle the world taking something else away from her. From them. But despite his fear, he remained calm, knowing she needed to as well. “Everything is going to be okay,” he promised. “I hear the sirens, love. Help is almost here.”

The words didn’t seem to abate her as she continued to shake. “Please,” she cried, tears gathering at the corner of her eyes and dribbling down her cheeks. “Check if I’m bleeding.”

Azriel knew she needed to know—would not breathe steadily until she did. He placed his hand on the inside of her thigh, sliding up until he reached her panties. Feeling her for any sort of wetness. Any stickiness that would confirm to him there was blood.

She was dry.

There weren’t words to describe how thankful he felt for that confirmation. “No blood,” he told her, pulling his hand out from underneath her dress to show her his clean fingers.

Elain released a sob, her tense body relaxing slightly.

He shushed her, kissing her temple again. “You’re okay,” he murmured, wanting to do everything in his power to reassure her. “Everything is going to be okay.”

Two firetrucks pulling up snagged his attention, as he continued to stroke her cheek soothingly.

“Sir, are you both okay?” one of the responders asked as he approached his side of the car.

He glanced at the man. “We’re conscious but she needs to be looked at.”

The guy rapped his knuckles on the top of the car. “We’ll get you out in a second—”

“Her first,” he told him in a tone that brooked no room for argument.

Another firefighter moved towards his wife’s window. “Ma’am, can you tell me your name?” she asked.

“Elain,” his wife answered.

“Are you in any pain?”

“My head hurts a bit.” Those doe eyes looked at the other woman. “I’m pregnant.”

She turned her head and yelled, “Get me the jaws!” Looking back at Elain, she reached in and wrapped a C-collar around her neck. “How far along are you?”

“Fifteen weeks.”

A nod. “All right, Elain. We’ll have you out in a jiffy and get you over to the hospital to have your baby checked out.”

Neither of them bothered to correct her on the number of babies. It wasn’t relevant, only that they needed to get her out. Once the door was opened, they began moving her onto a backboard. Azriel wrenched the driver’s side open, wanting to get to her as quickly as possible.

“Sir! You need to be checked by the paramedic,” somebody called out but he ignored them, rounding the vehicle to where Elain was being placed on a stretcher. Just before he reached her, another voice called his name—one he couldn’t ignore. He turned, finding Cassian running over to him, flashing a badge to one of the firefighters to get past him. Rhys, Feyre, and Nesta stood just beyond the scene at their cars, all watching his wife being checked out.

“What the hell happened?” Cassian demanded, eyes flitting over to where Elain was being hauled towards an ambulance.

“Hit and run. Fucker took off after T-boning us,” he snarled, tone murderous. They would not get away with this. Not with his pregnant wife in the car with him. Az glanced up and saw the street cameras, angled just right to have caught the entire accident. “Cash, get me the film from that camera,” he indicated with a nod of his head before swiveling on his feet and prowling toward his wife.

Cassian kept stride with him, took in the responders on the scene, and lowered his voice to not be overheard. “Az, the police will investigate. Just let them do their job.”

Azriel whirled on his brother. “You either get me that tape, Cassian, or I’ll get it my way. Either option, I will find out who did this to her.” There was no arguing when he stepped into this role. This wasn’t a brother asking for a favor. This was the head of the Velaris Mob Boss demanding it.

His voice turned deadly, taking on the dangerous threat he used to get what he wanted.

When it looked like his brother was about to argue, the female firefighter shouted, “Victim is fifteen weeks pregnant. She needs to be checked out by a doctor.”

Elain called Az’s name and he turned, striding towards her but not before he caught how Cassian’s face paled. Or the shocked looks from their siblings. Well, that’s one way to find out, he thought to himself as he reached his wife’s side and took her hand.

She clutched his fingers, her face still scrunched with worry. He gave her a reassuring squeeze, placing a kiss on her forehead before they loaded her into the back of the ambulance. Az climbed in after, sitting down on the bench and gripping her hand once more. He glanced back out the door and found Cassian standing there.

“I’ll get you that tape,” he said quietly; fierce determination blazed in his hazel eyes to help his brother wreak havoc over the person who went after his pregnant wife. Only Cassian could understand the fear of something like this, having already gone through a pregnancy with Nesta. Without another word, he shut the doors to the ambulance.

Elain looked up at him, his name falling from her lips. He brushed a thumb over her forehead. “Everything is going to be fine, love. Just try to relax.” It was empty words, they knew that. Knew neither of them would settle until they heard both of those heartbeats on a monitor.

He just hoped he was holding it together enough for her until they could confirm she was still pregnant.

And may God have mercy on the fucker who caused this, if she wasn’t.

~~~

They ushered Elain into a private room, hooking her up to a fetal monitor. The doctor moved quickly, shoving her dress up to reveal her bare stomach while a nurse covered her hips with a blanket.

She flinched slightly when the cold gel was applied to her skin and Azriel brought her fingers to his lips, kissing her across the backside of her knuckles.

It was like the world held its breath as they searched for those two heartbeats.

“Baby number one looks good,” the doctor said, clicking a button and sending the hummingbird’s wing pattern of a heartbeat into the room.

Elain squeezed his hand, a soft sound passing between her lips in relief.  

The wand moved on her belly, searching for their other little one. “And, there they are. Hiding behind their sibling.”

When the second heartbeat reached their ears, Elain twisted, sobbing into Az’s chest with utter joy. He wasn’t very far behind her, letting tears of relief slip from his eyes as he cradled her against his torso. His hand rubbed her shoulder, lips pressing to the crown of her head, offering comfort to her through his presence and touch.

The doctor cleaned her off, smiling at the two of them. “Everything looks good on the monitor,” she started after giving them a moment. “We’ll keep you here for another hour or so just to be safe before we discharge you. If you have any bleeding in the next few days, come in right away.”

Elain seemed unable to answer, so he did it for her. “We will, thank you, doctor.”

“There also appears to be a group of people waiting for you guys in the lobby. Would you like me to send them in or give them a message?”

He crouched, putting himself at her eye level, wanting Elain to make the decision. Az cupped her cheek, thumb brushing away the tears under her eyes. “Love, do you want to see the family now?” he asked, voice low.

She sniffed, eyes still flooded with silver. The subtle shake of her head told him she wasn’t quite ready for the company yet.

Azriel rose, perching himself on the edge of her bed, and tucked her back into his chest. “Can you tell them that we’re okay, and I’ll come to get them when we’re ready for visitors?”

“Of course. Page the nurse if you need anything.” Without another word, she slipped from the room, the door clicking shut behind her.

Elain fisted his shirt, taking in his cedar and mist scent deep into her lungs. He gave her whatever time she needed, letting her get herself together. “I was so scared,” she whispered, burying her face further into his embrace.

Azriel was grateful that she seemed to find comfort in him, in his touch, his scent. He held her tighter against him, murmuring, “Me too.”

She held onto him for a few more precious moments before pulling back to look up at his face. “I didn’t see the other car when they pulled me out.” Her brows furrowed as she tried to put the pieces together. “Were we in a hit and run?”

“Yes,” he said, brushing his thumb back and forth over her cheek.

Her eyes flicked between his. “Do you think we were targeted?”

He wouldn’t lie to her—refused to, but also didn’t want her to be even more frightened than she already was. “I do.” Az saw that kid look directly at him, his eyes widening in understanding that he was, in fact, not dead, before taking off from the scene. He didn’t recognize him, but if he had to place a bet, he’d say it was one of Frankie’s lower levels who crossed to Elias’s side.

Az didn’t think either of his brothers would call a hit like that. Middle of the day, busy street. It wasn’t their style. But Elias was careless, greedy, and a poor decision-maker. He sighed, brushing his lips to her forehead. “The kid looked me dead in the eye before leaving. He was scared that I was still alive.”

“How old do you think he was?” Elain asked.

“I’d say we have at least a decade on him. Seventeen, maybe eighteen.”

“So, just a kid then.”

He cocked his head to the side. “You say that like it’s excusable.”

She shook her head. “I’m not excusing what he did, but we both know how young kids are trapped into joining those gangs. Through manipulation and fear. There’s a reason you won’t allow anyone that young to be brought in, Az, and you know it. I don’t think I’m going out on a limb to question if it was his idea or he was put up to it.”

His lips quirked up as she spoke like a true Mob queen. “If you had to guess who would put him up to it—”

“Elias, no doubt. We both know he’s been itching to strike at us since he showed up at the hospital. And you said he was trying to recruit kids from Frankie. Perhaps he offered this kid a way out from under Illyrian rule.”

“There is only one way out from Frankie’s Mob,” he told her, letting the words hang heavily between them.

Elain let out a deep breath. “I know. Either way, he’s dead. Elias is likely to kill him for failing, or Frankie and Nick will for attempting to leave.”

It floored him to just how similar her train of thought was to his. She observed and listened and picked up on every single thread laid down. Understood all of the connections and bloodshed as if she’d been a part of it her whole life. He couldn’t say that the revelation was thrilling, but it also made his chest ache. Az never wanted her to be so in tune with his world. Didn’t want her to have to think about the worst-case scenarios and determine ways around them. But here she was, doing just that and not shying away from it.

To think he couldn’t love her any more than he already did.

“I have to agree with your assessment. Elias will not get away with this; with what he’s done to you.”

She didn’t balk at the threat in his tone, simply took his hand in hers and squeezed. “Despite what he’s done, is going after him the best idea? Things could escalate.”

“We can’t let this go without repercussions, love. Others will hear about this and wait to see how I respond. If it’s not a show of force, they’ll think I’ve gone lax and more will come. I need to be aggressive with my actions.”

It looked like she wanted to argue some more, but decided against it, bringing his hand up to her mouth to kiss his scars. “Do you want to go get the others now? I’m ready to see them.”

He smiled down at her, cupping her cheek one more time. “I’ll be right back.” Az pressed his lips to her forehead before he slipped from the room, knowing that that conversation was far from over. But he’d let it go for now. She had been through enough today without him pushing her on it. But this was one thing he would not, could not budge on. Not if he didn’t want to keep her safe. Especially now with their growing family.

Azriel wasn’t even to the edge of the lobby when Nesta shot out of her chair.

“Is she all right?” his sister asked, face drawn with worry.

His eyes glanced to Cassian behind her, cradling a sleeping Sutton in his large arm, Feyre and Rhys next to him. “She’s fine,” he told them, sensing their relief. “They want to keep her here another hour or so, just to be safe, but you guys are welcome to come back with me if you’d like.”

“Does she want company?” Feyre asked, edging to her eldest sister’s side. “We don’t want to intrude—”

“She asked for you all. No intrusion,” Az interrupted her.

Cassian swallowed, his eyes looking down at the small thing in the crook of his elbow. “You know we all heard the firefighter…is the baby okay?”

He had a feeling one of them would ask, but he wanted to make sure Elain was present for it. So, he said instead, “Everyone is fine. We can talk more in her room.” Turning on his heel, he headed back toward Elain’s private room, knowing they’d follow him closely.

Opening the door, he caught Elain looking intently out the window, seemingly oblivious to the world around her. “Love,” he called out to her, making her snap out of her reverie and turn to face him. “Our siblings are here.”

Her smile lit up his entire chest, despite the current circumstances. Gods, she was radiant when she smiled at him like that.

He held the door open, letting their family shuffle in. Nesta and Feyre made a beeline right to either side of her, gripping her in a firm hug.

“Are you all right?” Nesta asked again, cupping her cheeks in her palms.

Elain laughed slightly. “Yes, I’m fine.” Her eyes landed on his at the foot of her bed and he nodded at her, answering her silent question. One small hand swept down over the slight swell of her belly. “We’re all fine,” she added, a bit more shyly.

“I can’t believe you two are pregnant already,” Rhys stated, resting a palm on her lower leg.

Az laughed. “Strong swimmers,” he boasted.

“Asshole,” Cassian muttered. It wasn’t a secret that he and Nesta had struggled a bit to get pregnant. His wife was, apparently, just incredibly fertile.

Elain just shook her head, eyes rolling at the exchange.

“How far along are you?” Feyre asked, interrupting what she knew was going to be another ridiculous argument.

“Fifteen weeks. Or just over,” she answered.

Nesta blinked in surprise. “Do you know what you’re having?”

Her lips quirked up in the corner as she eyed him. “A boy.”

Their family erupted into congratulatory shouts for them both, grabbing them into hugs. Az waited until they quieted down before announcing, “And a girl.”

All four heads swiveled to him.

Silence descended upon their family for a few tense moments before Rhys finally demanded, “Explain!”

“We’re having a boy and a girl.”

He could see the lightbulbs going off above their heads. It was rather humorous to watch them connect the dots.

“You’re having twins?” Cassian breathed, eyes wide as saucers.

Elain chuckled at their expense. “Yes, my husband infested me with his superseed for two babies.”

Azriel barked out a laugh. “You’re one to talk miss fertile as fuck.”

Their family erupted into a fit of hysterics at the exchange and that brought the largest smile to his face. Elain caught his grin, offering him one of her own. Fuck, he loved her so damn much and he couldn’t wait to have his two little ones welcomed into such a loving family.

He still had to handle Elias, still needed to confirm who else was involved in the hit on them, but he pushed that aside and focused on this moment with his pregnant wife and their siblings. Az would get his revenge…just not today.

~~~~~

Remember, sharing is caring! Please reblog if you liked the fic. It helps spread my work and I truly appreciate it. 💕

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[kkeidawrites]

Settlement

⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️

⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️

A continuation of Decision if you haven’t read it you can find it here!

Also if you have not seen the Sea Beast on Netflix please do! And be prepared for any spoilers below👇 You have been warned! Read at your own will!

⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️Spoilers Ahead!!⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️

Pt. 2

There was an unusual silence amongst the crowd as the fallen hunter sunk farther into the sea but, what caused Maisie to gasp was there standing in front of her with their sword drawn was none other than, Sarah Sharpe.

“I should have given you a bigger knife.” Sarah smirks then raises her sword and brings it down onto the already splitting rope. It breaks quickly and Maisie jumps back in shock. Y/n looks up at Sarah who nods to her and Y/n nods back, moving to stand next to Maisie.

“Maisie,” Y/n grabs her shoulders and the little girl looks up at her.

“I have to go help Jacob, find a way to get you and Red safely out of here and-woah!” The sudden movement of Red’s right fin makes all three exclaim in alarm and all three jump into the water without a second thought.

Y/n swims to where Jacob first landed in the water and sees his floating body sink lower into the sea. She is quick to go behind him and grab under his arms, pulling him up to shore.

Gasping for breath, Y/n drags Jacob’s heavy body towards the platform where Fen and Old Nick were waiting for them. They heaved Jacob’s limp body to lie on his back and helped Y/n out as well.

Y/n moves Jacob’s face to lay prone and Fen begins with chest compressions, on cue Y/n is holding Jacob’s nose and breathing into his mouth. Fen does the compressions one more time and Jacob sits up, nearly hitting Y/n in the head and spluttering up any water stuck in his throat.

“Jacob!” Y/n exclaims in relief and holds his face in her hands. The hunter gives a small grin then a roar is heard and everyone turns their gaze to Red as she raises up from her bindings with a drunken look. She tries to keep herself upright but flails around the kingdom’s paneling.

“Hold that thought, lass.” Jacob says and is on his feet running to where the gates leading into the castle were. Y/n stands to her feet as she watches on.

Red knocks over the Inevitable, the crew mates jumping into the sea for safety. Red roars weakly as she ends up crashing into the building attached to the castle.

Once she felt the poison finally stop messing with her senses, she shook her head and her focus looked at the royal family who watched in horror as Red growled at them. The royals are quick to run away, barreling into their guards to get away from the approaching beast. Her eyes then find Captain Crow who was running up fallen debris to grab the statue’s lance.

Red then dived under the water and swims into the small hill of debris the captain was perched on. He jumps out of the way of the crashing beast but, ends up falling on the ground, losing his lance in his downfall.

Red raises her neck as high as it would allow her and she growled menacingly down at the fallen captain, Crow watches in fear, seeing his end was now and with a lunge and a roar Red bares her teeth and moves to strike the captain. Crow turns his head, closes his remaining eye and raises his right hand to protect himself.

“Stop!” The sound of jaws closing and a defining silence is replaced as Crow gasps and opens his eye to see Maisie standing in front of the beast.

Red snarls quietly at the girl and Maisie stands with a straight back to the beast.

“If you do this, it will never end.” She tells Red who growls again.

Crow can only watch on in amazement and disbelief, as well as the other civilians of Whiterock.

Suddenly, his eye look to his left and see Jacob pick up the antique lance and stand with Maisie on the fallen debris, his stance more sure and straight as he looks into Red’s gaze.

He then raises the lance above his head and with a proclaimed yell, he repeats his words from earlier to the beast.

“No more monster hunting!” He breaks the lance in half with his right knee. This time his vow sealed and solid.

Throwing the broken weapon to the side, Red sits back a bit to see if it was just a trick. Seeing that it wasn’t, Red moves towards them again and Maisie and Jacob climb onto her.

Red raises her head to the royals on the ledge and Maisie moves to the edge of Red’s head to address the crowd.

“For generations, they taught us to hate the beasts and destroy them. And the beasts learned to both hate and fear us, making them fight back!” Maisie is addressing the king and queen now who are growing agitated by the girl’s accusations.

“Who are you to malign your king and queen? Such falsehoods shouldn’t be spoken from you! You have no right-“

“I have every right!” Maisie shouts back then holds her bag to her chest.

“I come from a long line of hunters. They died from your great death, your kingdom was built by their blood for your greed!”

“That is enough! General, give the command!” The queen orders but the General holds, seemingly wanting to hear more from the young girl.

Maisie turns to the crowd again.

“This war was started by the royals who have come before, their lies is what made this empire grow. Now this lot stands on the same perch as those before them to spill the same lies. For greed.”

“General!” The king hissed but the General doesn’t move to command her soldiers.

“Let it end. Let it end!” The girl finishes. There is an unnerving silence again.

“Let the beast go!” A villager speaks up.

“Listen to the child!” Another yells to the higher ups.

The civilians rise up in their defiance to harm the beast to the royals disbelief and begins to sweat a bit.

Y/n smiles proudly at Maisie and watching closer she sees her and Jacob hug, then Jacob pats Red’s head. The sea beast turns to leave the kingdom of Whiterock with a soft growl.

“What are you doing?” The king questions angrily to the General.

“Fire! Your queen demands it!” The queen yells and in turn the people of Whiterock yell to them not to harm the beast any more.

“General, should we fire?” The Sergeant asks.

The General sheaths her sword and turns to the king and queen who gasp in fear and prance back into the castle.

“I had a brother on the Monarch, Sergeant. And I want to know how this war started.” The General affirmed with a glare to the royals.

As Red swam to the gates leading out to the sea, her yellow eyes find Y/n and she stopped with a soft hum and swims over to where she stood with Fen and Old Nick.

Old Nick and Fen take a step back as Red approaches but Y/n smiles at Red and as soon as she dips her head to allow her to climb on, Jacob is there with a grin and reaches out to her.

Y/n smiles big and grasps his hand climbing on to Red and into Jacob’s arms. The man clears his throat at how close they were and Y/n just smiles, patting his shoulder gently.

“Y/n!” Maisie giggles and Y/n leaves his arms to bring the girl into a hug, then spinning her around hearing her laugh with glee.

“You were wondrous lass! Put those royals right in their place!” Y/n praised and Maisie grins. Setting her down, the three stand together as Red finally swims out of the kingdom of Whiterock.

Jacob rubs his right leg, groaning softly, Maisie notices and smiles up at him.

“That hurt, didn’t it?” She asked.

“You have no idea.” Jacob tells her and pulls her into a side hug, rubbing her shoulder. Y/n places a hand on Maisie’s head and Jacob flashes her a smile as well which Y/n returns.

⚔️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚔️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚔️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚔️⚓️⚓️⚓️

End of Pt. 2

Read Pt. 1 here!

[jomcdidi]

The sea beast head cannons (To revive my obsession with this movie 😭)

•Jacob is an amazing artist (Like he probably keeps a little journal of his art)

•Mrs merino is probably really chill when she’s not doing her job (Like she’s not screaming)

• Hunter life is probably way more boring then it seems they’re probably just always sitting around waiting for something to happen

•Sarah knows how to crochet/knit

•Fen likes flirting with women at bars and when they do it back she gets nervous

•Lea sees everything and knows everything since she’s the lookout so she always notices small things about people

• I feel like Mrs.Merinos first name would be like Beth or something

• For some reason I feel like Jacob would be a good singer

• You know that one orange headed dude that Jacob caught in the beginning of the movie his name is like Jamie or like William or something (I’m gonna find out trust me)

•Fen and Lea probably cuss a lot

I’ll make a part 2 I just needed this for motivation to shift 😦

[gerbilmongolski]

I have lived in the Southwest all my life, yet most of my dreams are laid in cold, giant lands of icy wastes and gloomy skies, and of wild, wind-swept fens and wilderness over which sweep great sea-winds, and which are inhabited by shock-headed savages with light fierce eyes. With the exception of one dream, I am never, in these dreams of ancient times, a civilized man. Always am I the barbarian, the skin-clad, tousle-haired, light-eyed wild man, armed with a rude ax or sword, fighting the elements and wild beasts, or grappling with armored hosts marching with the tread of civilized discipline, from fallow fruitful lands and walled cities. This is reflected in my writings, too, for when I begin a tale of old times, I always find myself instinctively arrayed on the side of the barbarian, against the powers of organized civilization.

Robert E. Howard

[lighthouseborna]

With You in My Heart I Can Bear Everything.

  Born among the Gyptian families who sail the seas to a sailor and a witch during an upheaval: he was out of place right from the start. Before the boy was even properly named, his mother gathered him and fled from the conflict at the coasts, seeking refuge among family friends who had long lived in the narrowboats that ran the channels of Brytain. His father remained tethered to the sea, unable to join them by a matter of both obligation and honor. To break would send others to ill fates, and leave him a cursed and ruined man, so there he remained.

  Henry's home became Eastern Anglia, where his mother made her home on the fens among men. Though she lived well there, and kept their laws, she kept her own way, too. Henry, therefore, was raised on a mix of Gyptain way and Witch's view. As result, he's always had a foot in more than one camp, so to speak. He doesn't lend to tradition very well at all, and loves nothing so much as to question the order of things so that he might decide if he finds that order adoptable or folly. And he does so love to collect. Histories and myths, legends and lore, all of it. A scholar of the fabricated, if you like. He seems rather fond of the idea. It was that, maybe, and the wilder, witchier aspects of his nature, that led him on to be a traveler more than a tradesman, though the two fit neatly hand in hand.

  Near his twentieth birthday, something in him changed. [I'm still torn on the exact nature of this part, but either it was a conflict related to his family history, or he came upsettingly close to intercision via The Maystadt Process. Or maybe those were the same thing, and it's both. Regardless, he goes away from it a bit...haunted.] At any rate, he's a known purveyor of maps and charts, sometimes rare artifacts and difficult-to-obtain goods. Anything with a good adventure in it is like to draw his eye.

  On the matter of his dæmon, her first shape was a wild cat's fiercely mewling kitten, amber colored and audacious. She was named Elektryona a full week before the boy's mother settled on the name Henry.

  In early youth she was wildly unsettled, fluttering easily between shapes borrowed from the adults he knew (birds and badgers, wolves and weasels) while of her own accord falling often into the shapes of marine mammals (otters, dolphins, sea lions, once -briefly- a great wallowing walrus) and an assortment of canines (scrappy terrier to mischievous coyote to enormously silly great dane all included.) Cats and bats and strange little lemurs made appearances, too; anything to get them to the roots of their questions or helpful in the aim of exploring someplace as thoroughly as was entirely possible. The only holding thing seemed to be that reptiles and bugs were out of the question- any whim was fair, so long as it had fur or feathers. Scales and chitin simply would not do. As Henry's knack for collecting and recounting stories emerged, Lektra took on a habit of adopting on the forms of fictional beasts that appeared within them. She'd hold these to accent the story or enact a prank, but never any longer than that. Of these, she seemed to prefer the chimera, albeit a chimera the size of a large dog. (Tragically, too small for riding.)   Once, after an accident in which Henry nearly drowned, she became a common mouse and kept the shape for weeks on end, hiding in his pockets and under his shirt, curling up against his collarbones. Then one day, for no obvious reason, wasn't a mouse anymore, and she never again took a shape any smaller than a wiggly lap-sized terrier. Soon after, she was more and more a sweet, sleek hunting dog, and hardly changing at all. She fully settled -somewhat early- in their eleventh year of life, comfortably a fine golden retriever with a warm reddish-golden coat and open, friendly face.

  Lektra is always playful and warm, but, too, fiercely protective, somewhat rowdy, & sometimes entirely unpredictable. She tends to be more willing than the average dæmon to speak to others directly, and does so with a confidence that defies every reproach. Truly, Elektryona and Henry are cut entirely from the same cloth. Their greatest difference seems to be that she learned a little better than him when to keep her tongue and take her time, and so often acts as Henry's voice of measured action, pulling him out of impulse with a poke of her nose. Excitable as she is, though, when they leap for trouble it's very often in tandem.

Her voice claim is (Lily J.ames.)

[silmforrookies]

Of the Beginning of Days - Important Quotes

A collection of quotes from the third chapter that I think are worth giving a look! All of the happenings are feautured in the retelling.

It is told among the wise that the First War began before Arda was full-shaped, and ere yet there was anything that grew or walked upon earth; and for long Melkor had the upper hand... So came Tulkas the Strong, whose anger passes like a mighty wind, scattering cloud and darkness before it; and Melkor fled before his wrath and his laughter, and forsook Arda, and there was peace for a long age. - Of Melkor and the coming of Tulkas

In that time the Valar brought order to the seas and the lands and the mountains, and Yavanna planted at last the seeds that she had long devised. And since, when the fires were subdued or buried beneath the primeval hills, there was need of light, Aulë at the prayer of Yavanna wrought two mighty lamps for the lighting of the Middle-earth which he had built amid the encircling seas. Then Varda filled the lamps and Manwë hallowed them, and the Valar set them upon high pillars, more lofty far than are any mountains of the later days. One lamp they raised near to the north of Middle-earth, and it was named Illuin; and the other was raised in the south, and it was named Ormal; and the light of the Lamps of the Valar flowed out over the Earth, so that all was lit as it were in a changeless day. - Of plants and Lamps

Then the seeds that Yavanna had sown began swiftly to sprout and to burgeon, and there arose a multitude of growing things great and small, mosses and grasses and great ferns, and trees whose tops were crowned with cloud as they were living mountains, but whose feet were wrapped in a green twilight... And there upon the Isle of Almaren in the Great Lake was the first dwelling of the Valar when all things were young, and new-made green was yet a marvel in the eyes of the makers; and they were long content. - Of plants and Almaren

Now it came to pass that while the Valar rested from their labours, and watched the growth and unfolding of the things that they had devised and begun, Manwë ordained a great feast; and the Valar and all their host came at his bidding... And Melkor knew of all that was done, for even then he had secret friends and spies among the Maiar whom he had converted to his cause; and far off in the darkness he was filled with hatred, being jealous of the work of his peers, whom he desired to make subject to himself. - of the Feast and Melkor

And it is sung that in that feast of the Spring of Arda Tulkas espoused Nessa the sister of Oromë, and she danced before the Valar upon the green grass of Almaren. - Tulkas weds Nessa

Now Melkor began the delving and building of a vast fortress, deep under Earth, beneath dark mountains where the beams of Illuin were cold and dim. - Melkor starts building Utumno

Green things fell sick and rotted, and rivers were choked with weeds and slime, and fens were made, rank and poisonous, the breeding place of flies; and forests grew dark and perilous, the haunts of fear; and beasts became monsters of horn and ivory and dyed the earth with blood. Then the Valar knew indeed that Melkor was at work again, and they sought for his hiding place. But Melkor, trusting in the strength of Utumno and the might of his servants, came forth suddenly to war, and struck the first blow, ere the Valar were prepared; and he assailed the lights of Illuin and Ormal, and cast down their pillars and broke their lamps. In the overthrow of the mighty pillars lands were broken and seas arose in tumult; and when the lamps were spilled destroying flame was poured out over the Earth. And the shape of Arda and the symmetry of its waters and its lands was marred in that time, so that the first designs of the Valar were never after restored... Thus ended the Spring of Arda. The dwelling of the Valar upon Almaren was utterly destroyed, and they had no abiding place upon the face of the Earth. - Melkor strikes again

Therefore they departed from Middle-earth and went to the Land of Aman, the westernmost of all lands upon the borders of the world... and since Melkor was returned to Middleearth and they could not yet overcome him, the Valar fortified their dwelling, and upon the shores of the sea they raised the Pelóri, the Mountains of Aman, highest upon Earth... Behind the walls of the Pelóri the Valar established their domain in that region which is called Valinor; and there were their houses, their gardens, and their towers... And when Valinor was full-wrought and the mansions of the Valar were established, in the midst of the plain beyond the mountains they built their city, Valmar of many bells. - of Aman, Valinor, and Valmar

Before its western gate there was a green mound, Ezellohar, that is named also Corollairë; and Yavanna hallowed it, and she sat there long upon the green grass and sang a song of power, in which was set all her thought of things that grow in the earth. But Nienna thought in silence, and watered the mould with tears... And as they watched, upon the mound there came forth two slender shoots; and silence was over all the world in that hour, nor was there any other sound save the chanting of Yavanna. Under her song the saplings grew and became fair and tall, and came to flower; and thus there awoke in the world the Two Trees of Valinor... Telperion the one was called in Valinor, and Silpion, and Ninquelótë, and many other names; but Laurelin the other was, and Malinalda, and Culúrien, and many names in song beside. - the creation of Two Trees

In seven hours the glory of each tree waxed to full and waned again to naught; and each awoke once more to life an hour before the other ceased to shine. Thus in Valinor twice every day there came a gentle hour of softer light when both trees were faint and their gold and silver beams were mingled... And each day of the Valar in Aman contained twelve hours, and ended with the second mingling of the lights, in which Laurelin was waning but Telperion was waxing. - the days in Valinor

And in the midst of the Blessed Realm were the mansions of Aulë, and there he laboured long... But Manwë Súlimo, highest and holiest of the Valar, sat upon the borders of Aman, forsaking not in his thought the Outer Lands. For his throne was set in majesty upon the pinnacle of Taniquetil, the highest of the mountains of the world, standing upon the margin of the sea. Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world... But Ulmo was alone, and he abode not in Valinor, nor ever came thither unless there were need for a great council; he dwelt from the beginning of Arda in the Outer Ocean, and still he dwells there... And in that time of dark Yavanna also was unwilling utterly to forsake the Outer Lands; for all things that grow are dear to her, and she mourned for the works that she had begun in Middle-earth but Melkor had marred. Therefore leaving the house of Aulë and the flowering meads of Valinor she would come at times and heal the hurts of Melkor; and returning she would ever urge the Valar to that war with his evil dominion that they must surely wage ere the coming of the Firstborn. And Oromë tamer of beasts would ride too at whiles in the darkness of the unlit forests; as a mighty hunter he came with spear and bow, pursuing to the death the monsters and fell creatures of the kingdom of Melkor, and his white horse Nahar shone like silver in the shadows. - of Aulë, Manwë, Ulmo, Yavanna, and Oromë

Now all is said concerning the manner of the Earth and its rulers in the beginning of days, and ere the world became such as the Children of Ilúvatar have known it. For Elves and Men are the Children of Ilúvatar; and since they understood not fully that theme by which the Children entered into the Music, none of the Ainur dared to add anything to their fashion... For it is said that after the departure of the Valar there was silence, and for an age Ilúvatar sat alone in thought. Then he spoke and said: ‘Behold I love the Earth, which shall be a mansion for the Quendi and the Atani! But the Quendi shall be the fairest of all earthly creatures, and they shall have and shall conceive and bring forth more beauty than all my Children; and they shall have the greater bliss in this world. But to the Atani I will give a new gift.’... Death is their fate, the gift of Ilúvatar, which as Time wears even the Powers shall envy. But Melkor has cast his shadow upon it, and confounded it with darkness, and brought forth evil out of good, and fear out of hope. - Of Elves and Men, and their gift (Quendi = Elves, Atani = Men)

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[marta-bee]

Marta Re-Reads the Silmarillion: QS Ch 1, “Of the Beginning of Days”

My first thought, and one I returned to often throughout, was: God, what an unsympathetic pack of weenies the Valar are. It’s a thought that’s as true as the bit about elves and ‘strange fates’ and I’ll circle back to it in a bit. Still, talking about them as a group, I stand by it.

I’m jumping ahead of myself, though. Let me slow down.

The Maiar start building up the cosmos, but before its even fully-formed they go to war with Melkor. This is literally in the first sentence.

It doesn’t go well, at all, but then Tulkas rushes in and joins their fight. I’m just going to quote this bit just because it’s such a poetic phrasing and I’ve always loved it:

But in the midst of the war a spirit of great strength and hardihood came to the aid of the Valar, hearing in the far heaven that there was battle in the Little Kingdom; and Arda was filled with the sound of his laughter. So came Tulkas the Strong, whose anger passes like a mighty wind, scattering cloud and darkness before it; and Melkor fled before his wrath and his laughter, and forsook Arda, and there was peace for a long age. And Tulkas remained and became one of the Valar of the Kingdom of Arda; but Melkor brooded in the outer darkness, and his hate was given to Tulkas for ever after

That first war basically extinguished the or hid underground all the fires Melkor had lit. Good. But also not so good, because the Valar now realize they need some sort of light. This is the point I talked about in my last post on the Valaquenta: fire is destructive, but some sort of light is still needed. Their solution:

And since, when the fires were subdued or buried beneath the primeval hills, there was need of light, Aule at the prayer of Yavanna wrought two mighty lamps for the lighting of the Middle-earth which he had built amid the encircling seas. Then Varda filled the lamps and Manwe hallowed them, and the Valar set them upon high pillars, more lofty far than are any mountains of the later days. One lamp they raised near to the north of Middle-earth, and it was named Illuin; and the other was raised in the south, and it was named Ormal; and the light of the Lamps of the Valar flowed out over the Earth, so that all was lit as it were in a changeless day.

Except oopsie, they may have overdone it a bit, because between the recent war and the great creative labors, the Valar find themselves desperately in need of a nap. On that point I can sympathize. The problem is Melkor was only driven out (or withdrawn), not defeated. Let me quote Tolkien at length because, again, his epic style is simply too pretty to be paraphrased.

And though the Valar knew naught of it as yet, nonetheless the evil of Melkor and the blight of his hatred flowed out thence, and the Spring of Arda was marred. Green things fell sick and rotted, and rivers were choked with weeds and slime, and fens were made, rank and poisonous, the breeding place of flies; and forests grew dark and perilous, the haunts of fear; and beasts became monsters of horn and ivory and dyed the earth with blood. Then the Valar knew indeed that Melkor was at work again, and they sought for his hiding place. But Melkor, trusting in the strength of Utumno and the might of his servants, came forth suddenly to war, and struck the first blow, ere the Valar were prepared; and he assailed the lights of Illuin and Ormal, and cast down their pillars and broke their lamps. In the overthrow of the mighty pillars lands were broken and seas arose in tumult; and when the lamps were spilled destroying flame was poured out over the Earth.

(I find myself chuckling here. Again with the ‘destroying flames’. That went well.)

At this point Melkor withdraws to his stronghold, and the Valar fell back to Valinor, “to save from ruin all that could be saved of their labour.” Tolkien also gives the reason that the Children [the Elves and Men] were sleeping somewhere in Middle-earth, they knew not where, and at this point they decided they couldn’t risk more floods and earthquakes. That makes sense except the world has already gone through that at this point, making me question the wisdom of going after Morgoth in the first place if they didn’t have that seemingly crucial bit of wisdom. But be that as it may: they pull back to Aman, Yavanna dances on the lush green grass of Ezellohar and pulls the Two Trees into existence. At which point they all get the rest they apparently so desperately needed and wait around a bit for the Children to make their appearance.

If you can accept this is how gods apparently behave in stories, I’m sure this all goes down a bit more smoothly. I tend to think gods just like everyone else owe it to the rest of us to have a sustainable game-plan before they set events in motion, and it’s a bit harder to be overly sympathetic when you remember it was, what, thirteen to one (plus Tulkas)? From my slightly heretical viewpoint they started a war they couldn’t finish, overexerted themselves through great acts of creation that --while cool-- probably could have waited, were bamboozled by their own underlings who basically gave the game away to their still-at-large adversary, and instead of resolving the situation or even hunting out the Children they’re so eager to see so they  could protect them ... go on sabbatical.

*deep breath*

This is something of a longstanding grudge on my part, not least because it’s a pattern that will keep happening. I keep reminding myself this is narrative logic, not logic-logic, and it’s what makes for a better epic story. (Epic in the classical sense, not in the gnarly sense.) It’s what gods do, what gods are supposed to do to make room for the rest of us to also have our own adventure. But it’s very hard to respect their wisdom here. Or even their intelligence, either in the Platonic-noesis sense, or just plain military/strategic intelligence.

Here’s where things get interesting, though. While the Valar generally seem to withdraw to Aman, most of the names we’re most familiar with are named specifically as exceptions. Ulmo, obviously. If you know anything about Ulmo it’s probably that he likes Middle-earth and the ‘deep waters’ rather than spending time with his brethren in Valinor. Manwe sends out spirits shaped like Eagles (yeah, those guys!) who can essentially x-ray the wild earth and bring him back news of how things are progressing. Others go even further:

And in that time of dark Yavanna also was unwilling utterly to forsake the Outer Lands; for all things that grow are dear to her, and she mourned for the works that she had begun in Middle-earth but Melkor had marred. Therefore leaving the house of Aule and the flowering meads of Valinor she would come at times and heal the hurts of Melkor; and returning she would ever urge the Valar to that war with his evil dominion that they must surely wage ere the coming of the Firstborn. And Orome tamer of beasts would ride too at whiles in the darkness of the unlit forests; as a mighty hunter he came with spear and bow, pursuing to the death the monsters and fell creatures of the kingdom of Melkor, and his white horse Nahar shone like silver in the shadows. Then the sleeping earth trembled at the bat of his golden hooves, and in the twilight of the world Orome would sound the Valaroma his great horn upon the plains of Arda; whereat the mountains echoed, and the shadows of evil fled away, and Melkor himself quailed in Utumno, foreboding the wrath to come.

Earlier I compared the idea that the Valar were withdrawn, witless and ineffectual to the line about elves and strange fates. I was referring to a line in “Laws and Customs Among the Eldar,” a HoME essay that was oft-debated by Tolkien fans interested in talking about Elves, love and sex. I was thinking specifically of this line: “the Eldar wedded once only in life, and for love or at the least by free will upon either part. [....] Marriage, save for rare ill chances or strange fates, was the natural course of life for all the Eldar.”

Except if you’re familiar with the Silmarillion you probably find yourself thinking of one “strange fate” or the other. It’s one thing to say that in the abstract, but think of Eol and Aredhel. Or the seven sons of Feanor, who manage to produce one named offshoot between them. Or so, so, so many others. Strange fates seem much more the norm than our famed Aelfwine would have us believe, once you get into the particulars. And in fairness to the Valar, I’d say much the same is true of them. As a a group, they are withdrawn (literally) and neither wise nor particularly effective in how they deal with Melkor. Individually, at least in the glimpses we see here, they do a bit better.

Tolkien ends this chapter with a rather interesting discussion of elves and men, and in particular the “Gift of Men”; that is, mortality. I’d need a whole other post to really unpack it and I may do that. For now, though, I’ll say that comparing Men’s brashness and misssteps as working with their gift of Freedom and potential to reach for More makes a lot of sense to me; and the comparison with Melkor in the Ainulindale seemed obvious even before Tolkien made the connection. That parallel makes me think better of Melkor than less of Men, at least before he gave up entirely on his Melkor-ness and became more a Morgoth. It’s definitely worth reading those last few paragraphs if you have access to the text.

(..... Psst, book Tolkien fans? http://tolkien.ru/texts/eng/ , u/n & pwd both = “tolkien”. They’re varying quality and with OCR errors galore, but now you have no excuses, should you be so inclined.)

Next up: Yavanna and Aule get their bickering game on. My body is ready.

[elveswithoutearsmultimuse]

Jacoooooob

10 Facts About My Characters

🌟 Drop one of my characters’ names in my inbox and I’ll tell you 10 facts about them 🌟

Jacob sailed on his bio father's merchant ship before sailing on Crow's hunting ship.

Jacob although never confirmed is the second mate of the ship

Jacob's favorite color is red. No this has nothing to do with the sea beast. He's liked it since he was small.

He's close with Sarah, Fen, Lia, and Nick

When it comes to playful bets, Jacob will never back down. This has caused him many bad hangovers.

Jacob is an early riser. The problem is he's a heavy sleeper. Good luck waking him before his usual time

On that note, Jacob can sleep pretty much anywhere. In a hammock, in bed, on the deck, in a carriage

When Jacob adopts Maisie he becomes a fisherman.

He makes sure Maisie goes to school, he wants her to be smarter than him. Sometimes he wonders if she already is...

Jacob didn't want Blue in the house at first, but eventually Maisie talked him into it. Blue has a bucket to be dunked in if he starts drying out too much

[butterfly87676]

I need to see this trio again in the sequel

like seeing them teasing and laughing at each other’s like siblings.

[ariannalitvin]

Hi

bye

[author-morgan]

Hello, dear! Best wishes to you, I hope you are doing well. If you take any requests about m!Eivor, could you please write the story about how he saw in his dream (or Valka trip) a reader and fell inlove with them, but then met them in real life? A bit of magic never disturbs. ;D Thank you, I love your writing!

here you are! hope you enjoy and apologies for the wait! guest appearance by Havi!

m!Eivor x fem!Reader 

IT IS A rare thing when King of the Æsir comes to Fensalir of his own volition —leaving behind the golden hall and his score of warriors. He walks at the edge of the water through the tall grasses with Huginn resting on his shoulder and Muninn flying overhead. His gaze lingers ahead to a figure clothed in white, picking flowers and herbs. Frigg —a smile pulls at his lips— my queen. Huginn leaps into the sky when he pushes back his dark hood, stepping closer to where his heart and troubled mind have led him. 

“Havi,” you greet, having foreseen his arrival and the reason for it. Rising from the patch of white blooms —Baldr’s brow, you named them, after your beloved son— you brush the dirt from your hands and smooth down the front of your white gown. He stands before you as few have seen him, vulnerable and seeking guidance for a storm brews in the depths of his mind. The clouds gather, shadowing his clear blue gaze and giving him the countenance of a man walking the path to self-destruction. It is a look you do not like to see in any man, especially your husband. 

He does not explain his coming —long has the giant, Vafþrúðnir, dwelled in your husband’s mind for no other reason save the claim he is the wisest being in the nine realms. Taking Havi’s hand, you lead him to a bench at the edge of the fen-water, thinking of ways to dissuade him from a needless battle of strength or wit. You peer up at him from beneath your lashes, thumb running across his knuckles. “You are ever wise, husband–” Havi’s lips kink into a half-smile at the praise though it falters a moment later as you continue “–but Vafþrúðnir is the all the wiser.”

Two ravens with dark feathers shining like an oil slick in the pale sun come to perch —Huginn sits proudly on Havi’s shoulder, Muninn on yours. If it is only concern Havi has for the movement and dealings of the mighty Jötunn, then his ravens would suffice, but the look he wears is not one of mere concern. Muninn croaks at your ear as though he agrees with your thoughts. You reach up, stroking the feathers of Muninn’s underbelly. “Send Huginn or Muninn in your stead,” you supplicate, watching the crooked smile creep up onto his lips.

“Sweet Frigg,” Havi says, bemused by what he considers your concern, “you doubt me still.”

“Only because you do not see what is more than ten steps ahead of you until you arrive,” you admonish. Havi is wise in his own right, though at times, his temper tried to outweigh wisdom and reason. “You have your doubts,” you tell him with a soft smile, no other knew Havi as you did —sometimes he wonders if you know him better than he knows himself, and oft times the answer is yes, “else you would not visit my dwellings.” He looks away, shaking his head with a soft smile, unable to deny his wife and queen knew him well. You raise your hand to his scarred cheek, bringing his gaze back to you. “Go, dear Havi,” you breathe, “yet know I will not soothe your wounded pride.”

He rises from the bench, and you follow —both ravens leaping back into the watercolor sky. “When has my queen ever done so?” Havi steps closer, his rough hands cradling your face. You tilt your chin up, accepting a kiss as payment for your counsel. 

THE GOD OF Thunder and your step-son comes to Fensalir asking you to tend his father. Havi has been distraught for days after visiting with the Nornir, and Thor believes his beloved step-mother and queen are the only balm for such distress. You go to him in the twilight hours, finding him sitting atop the world with a distant and troubled look. He pays no mind to your approach, save moving to the left on his great throne to make room for you to sit. “What ails your mind, dear Havi?” You ask, sitting at his side —fingertips following the scar on his cheek, brushing through his close-cropped golden beard now tinged with the first kiss of silver. 

Havi turns his head, looking upon you in despair, but there is something else in his solemn gaze too —defeat. He pulls your hand from his cheek, thumb stroking the back of your palm. “Have you foreseen what the Nornir have?” 

Thor had not dispelled the reason behind the storm brewing within his father, but upon his question, you know what is troubling him —for the doom of the Æsir has plagued your thoughts and waking dreams. Though perhaps a worse fate lay ahead should you beget what visions fate had bestowed upon you. Havi is not one to accept his foretold ruin without first attempting to thwart the threads of fate. Information could be a dangerous thing. The difference between poison and medicine often lay within the dose. Sighing softly, you slip your hand free of his gentle grasp. 

“I cannot reveal what I have seen, nor am I privy what others have foreseen.” You lay your hand on his scarred cheek, bringing his gaze to you. The spark in your eyes gives him hope and eases his mind. Sweet Frigg, he thinks, ever the cure for my madness, my rock in a tempestuous sea. Havi covers your hand with his and leans toward you. The rough hair of his beard tickling your cheek before his lips brush against yours. “Have faith,” you breathe upon parting, resting your forehead against his. “Ragnarök shall not be our end.” It is a promise. 

“EIVOR!” WALLACE CRIES, helping his sister bring an injured woman into the longhouse of Ravensthorpe on a stormy night. He rouses from sleep and hastily puts on his tunic, greeting the hunters while rubbing his heavy eyes as they adjust to the dying firelight from the cook-fire and braziers. Eivor does not expect to see a woman supported between the siblings —head lolled forward with blood dripping from her arm and side. It takes him a moment to spur into action, but he takes Petra’s place and leads the injured woman to his chambers, helping her to the straw-and-rag stuffed mattress. 

Kneeling, he brushes aside the hair clinging her to face and freezes, eyes wide. “Frigg.” He breathes the name without a second thought and feels his heart clench. This woman is but a stranger, and yet a part of him has always known her. He is sure of it. Eivor presses his hand against the gash at her side and looks over his shoulder to Petra. It will take more than a cautery iron to heal this affliction. “Find Valka,” he tells the huntress. She nods, bolting from the longhouse as Wallace brings a basin of water and torn pieces of an old tunic. 

Valka comes with her poultices and cordials, kneeling bedside. As soon as she looks between Eivor and the injured woman, the Seer knows. Eivor Wolfsmal may be attempting to escape one knot in the tangled threads of fate, but he cannot run from them all. A bloody hour passes, but when the Seer takes her leave, she tells Eivor the woman will live, for the gods have smiled upon her, just as they smiled upon him. 

GROANING, YOU BEGIN to wake with a pang of hunger and thirst —the dull throbbing in your ribs is only a distant pain. The bed beneath you is soft, the wool and pelt blankets warm. The scent of cloudberries and honey linger in the air, reminders of a home no longer standing and a place you frequent in dreams. A rough hand curls around your wrist, jarring you into alertness, suddenly aware of the unfamiliar surroundings and the man sitting bedside in a disheveled tunic with partially unbound golden hair, hardly awake in the morning hours. “Havi?” You whisper. His is a face you know well —from his kind blue gaze to the scar on his cheek and the curve in a once-broken nose. 

He stares at you. He knows you. Eivor knows the curve of your lips, the gleam in your eyes, even the whisper of your voice. Sweet Frigg, his mind murmurs again and a strange feeling of relief overcomes him —as though a lifetime search has finally come to a close. “Eivor,” he corrects, ripping himself from the dream. Petra told him how they found you in the forest, stumbling away from the largest wolf either hunter ever seen. “They say you fended off a wolf on your own.” Spoken like that, it sounds a heroic deed —you left the beast for dead near a ravine, but the wolf had almost done the same to you. “What were you doing out in such a storm?” He asks, raising a tired brow. 

“Searching–” you sit up with a groan, holding onto your linen-bound side “–for home.” One of his hands covers yours, the other pressing against your lower back. Beholding Eivor, though, you realize your search has ended —you do not know him, but the feeling in your gut and the lightness of your heart in his presence tells you this is home. Dear Havi. Dreams and fate have led you here for a purpose. 

Eyes darting over Eivor’s features, you smile, offering your name. He repeats it, lips kinked. Your name is just as sweet on his lips as Frigg’s, if not sweeter. A moment passes, the silence hanging in the early morning air broken by the low croak of a raven perched in the rafters above your resting bed. Eivor glances up at Sýnin —the raven can sense something too. “You can stay here,” he notes, softly and without hesitance. “Ravensthorpe can be your home.” 

The generous offer makes your heart clench and brings tears welling up in your eyes. He smiles, and now you are certain your searches have finally ended. You pull your hand away from your side and Eivor’s hand, lifting it to his scarred cheek as you’ve done hundreds of times in dreams. Unwittingly, he leans into the touch —he’s done this before, and he recognizes the gentle caress of your thumb as it runs over the jagged scar. Eivor sighs  —all of this and you are familiar. 

Driven by memory, he rises to his knees, seeking your lips with his own. The tickle of his beard on your jaw and cheek is a warning, but you do not shy away —you’ve known him for a hundred lifetimes, and this is only a reunion. Eivor’s lips move against yours, both his arms loosely sliding around your waist. You smile against his lips, fingers combing through his golden beard. There are no sparks, for there is already a deep flame kindled between you both —one that cannot be extinguished in this life or the next. The threads of fate come together, and two halves are made whole. 

[taglist:  @kvitravn @vanillabeanlattes @nemo-my-name-forevermore  @withered-poppies @ananriel @britishhotassassin @maximalblaze @khaoskrossed @theelvenvalkyrie @xxdearlybeloved @elizabethroestone @elluvians @letsloveimagines @finick94 @wallsarecrumbling @kitkitvm @thedragonqueenfan @callmemythicalminx @edelaen @dynamicorbit @itseivwhore ] if you’d like to be added to my Eivor taglist, just let me know!

[cryptidcalling]

Fen short story collection from my English class! Sorry there’s no indents. Some vocab clarification: A-Ma is the Giant equivalent of “mamma” or “mom” Materi is a word in Giant that sorta combines the concepts of grandmother and mentor. Dayflower and his Materi are the same person. Also, the first one is technically written in English, but in canon Fen and River are both speaking Giant to one another! 

Sting “Does it still hurt?” “No. It’s just numb now. I can’t move my hand when I try to. I’m scared, River.” “Don’t be scared. We’re almost home, and Dayflower will take good care of you. It’s all gonna be fine.” River pet a hand into Fen’s hair, causing some hairs to pull free from his short ponytail and frizz out along his head. He didn’t react much, so River moved his hand to rub the fluffy inner fur of Fen’s bovine-like ears. The swatch of Fen’s tail wagged a little as it dragged across the damp grass. A ribbon tied around the base of the tuft was getting covered in green stains.  “Do you think she’ll be mad?” Fen asked “Why would she be mad?” “I skipped my lesson so we could explore the wetlands.” “So? She said you could. Plus you’re bringing back all those weird plants you guys need. The drug ones.” “Medicinal. They’re not drugs, they’re medicine. It’s different.” “Different how?” “Drugs are dangerous. Medicines are good for you. Sometimes plants can be used for both, so you have to know what to do with them.” “Like those mushrooms? The yellow ones?” “Russula Claroflava. No, they’re just to eat. You can fry them in oil with green onions and garlic and they taste really good.” “You should show me how to cook those once we get home then.” “I’m not really a chef.” “Aren’t cooking and potion making the same thing?” “Sorta, I guess. We’ll have to see if I can still use my hand.” River cringed, looking back down to his friend’s swollen fingers. He used his still-functioning hand to hold the other close to his chest. He’d thought their conversation was distracting Fen, but apparently the injury had never left his mind. River couldn’t blame him.  “Are you sure it doesn’t hurt?” “Mmh.” “And Dayflower can make it better, right?” “Mhm. She can make anything better. But we might not be allowed to explore around here anymore after this. At least not without an adult this time.” “We’re basically adults.” “I don’t even have my horns yet.” “You totally do! You have the buds.” “Those don’t count. Besides, I don’t mind not having horns. I don’t care if they ever grow in. My point is that I look young, and we are young, and maybe coming out here without an adult was a bad idea anyways.” “I don’t think so. You got all that stuff and we got to spend all day in the water. Plus we saw like a bajillion cool bugs and frogs and stuff.” “And then I got stung by something. That wasn’t really worth it.” Sighing, River gave Fen’s ear another gentle scratch and smiled when his tail started to wag again. “No, that wasn’t really worth it. But it’ll all be fine, okay? Even if we have to bring an adult with us next time. Your hand is gonna be okay, and Dayflower isn’t gonna be mad, and we’re probably not even gonna get in any trouble. It’s gonna be fine!” “Yeah… yeah. You’re probably right. It’s going to be fine.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Left Behind  The wind howled like a dying beast. Fen shivered violently, lost in a sea of white. Snow was falling fast and heavy. Chunky white clumps battered his head and obscured his vision and smell. His long bovine ears were tucked protectively under a thick wool-lined hood, thick enough to hide even his small horns underneath. Despite the thick-hooded coat and the chunky winter pants tucked into his furry boots, he felt like he was close to freezing. His long tail was tucked into the pants and wrapped around his leg. The long fluffy swatch pressed against his inner thigh, providing some meek sense of reassurance that he could still feel his legs at all.  He trudged through the mountain pass, already buried over his knees in heavy, wet layers of snow. He’d tried calling out before, but harsh gusts of wind swallowed his soft cries. When they’d first set out through the pass, the snow had not yet begun to fall. Dozens of covered wagons and over 57 Firbolg all crowded together. The entirety of his kind, bundled in their best winter gear and reassuring one another that they’d all make it through together.  Their kind had migrated with the seasons for as far back as their stories went. It was their way. They settled in the same places as their ancestors’ ancestors. They would bring the smaller tents with them, using them for cover as they stopped along their journey to rest. Others, ones which were too large to easily bring over a long journey, would be taken down and covered in wait for their yearly return. It was a familiar cycle. One he’d been living through for over 45 years now, and one he planned to keep living until he passed at the well-lived age of 500.  The snow had started about an hour into the trek. The mountain pass was wide enough for their carts, but small enough that they had to keep them single file. As the snow had started to pile higher, Fen had tried to remain close to the herd. The soft glowing light of their lanterns and the steady stomping of feet through the snow reassured him that his community was still with him. Then the flurries had begun, stirring up great gusts of snow. The wind had whipped against his face, knocking him back and sucking his breath away. By the time he’d gotten steady, the lanterns had already begun to fade, but he could still see them. He followed them through the storm and each hard bluster that caused him to stumble forced him further back from his family.  Eventually, Fen realized he was alone. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been truly, completely alone. There was always someone there. River by his side even at a distance, Dayflower sitting cross-legged with him in their tent as they ground herbs and sorted their foraged goods, his mother or father pulling him in for a hug before he went out for the day, even just the other members of his herd going about their own peaceful lives. All he could do now was keep walking. Follow the path he hoped they would be following as well.  Exhaustion ate at his resolve. He ached, freezing cold and sore in every limb. His legs shook with the effort of walking, barely managing to shove the heavy snow aside to take his next step. His hand stayed planted on the mountainside, keeping him steady and guaranteeing he won’t stray too far and end up tumbling down the icy cliffside. His foot caught on something beneath the snow. He gave a solid tug, but his foot didn't pull free. He gave a harder tug, but it only resulted in him losing his balance and tumbling down into the snow. For a moment, Fen was drowning. The ocean of snow swallowed him alive, cutting off his air and burying him in darkness. Then, his arm hit hard stone. He tumbled down the small slope and slid until he hit the cave back with a sharp thud.  His head spun and his vision was blurry, and for a moment all he could do was lay against the freezing stone. He didn’t realize he’d fallen unconscious until he awoke again later, his eyes greeted by the searing white of a blizzard in daylight. For a long while he just lay there, drifting in and out of awareness, until finally, he forced himself to sit up. His movements were sluggish and pained, but eventually he was able to take in his surroundings.  He was in a cave, if one could even consider it that. It was cramped and freezing, but it provided a refuge from the wind and the growing snow. Slowly working the straps of his bag off and pushing it aside, Fen tucked himself into the safety of the nook. Even if it was cold and frightening, if he wanted to live he’d have to wait it out. Surely someone would come for him, eventually.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eclectic Herbalist (This one is describing Fen’s room if he lived in a modern setting!!) The room was alive with the earthy smells of herbs and chamomile tea. A platform bed lay tucked in the corner, adorned with a patchwork comforter and an assortment of brightly colored pillows. Lace, tassels, and tie-dye embroidery sparked each of them to life, all sporting a different distinct style from a collection of different artisans.  Shelves lined the walls in neat rows, beginning at the left wall and trailing in long platforms to stop where the center wall met the right. If one looked closely they would be able to see that the shelves were made of a rich dark wood, but most would be distracted by the menagerie of plants and items which lined them. The pots on the lower shelves were perfectly aligned to bask in the morning sun which streamed in from the adjacent window. Others, those who were less partial to the brightness, hid on the highest shelves. Sage, rosemary, mint, and an assortment of other such herbs all bloomed green and vibrant. Other plants, some sporting blooming white flowers and others weaving their vines along the supports, had their homes among the collection as well.  A number of small glass ornaments rested upon the sill, casting bright spots of color across the walls and floor. Some were smooth and balanced, built with sleek and delicate details. A curling autumn leaf which functioned two-fold as a bowl for pin cushions and misplaced buttons. A charging bull whose horns held a few leather bracelets and hair ties. Accenting their carefully crafted  beauty were a few simpler projects. An ovular whale whose eyes were a bit lopsided, and flower whose petals had drooped too far while the glass was still hot, leading the tips to sink into one another.  Near the door on the right wall towered a great bookshelf, spanning from floor to ceiling. In it rested a vast swath of thick texts and a piling collection of loose papers and well-worn notebooks. Reading the spines one would find titles such as The Herbal Apothecary, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, and Glass Blowing for Beginners. The books had little organization among them, left unsorted as they were jumbled to-and-fro when their owner needed them once more. At the door sat a well-dirtied mat. It might’ve said “Welcome” once, or perhaps “Home” instead, but the dusty matted material obscured most of the phrase. On it rested a pair of sport sandals with footprints well worn into their soles, along with a pair of bright pair of pink and orange swirling tye-dye crocs. Well worn and well loved, the rubber outsoles had begun to fray, yet they’d been tucked just far enough into the corner that the sun can’t quite reach them. Their colors remained pure and vibrant, but when sat in a room so filled with color they barely managed to stand out.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Morning (This one is actually unfinished, but the full story is a collab between me and someone in my DnD campaign so the rest won’t make sense anyways.) Fen wakes when the sun has just begun to rise. Faint rays of sunlight illuminate the greenhouse, tinting it with the soft oranges and pinks of a new morning. Fen lays on a large, soft mattress without a bed frame, piled with an assortment of blankets and pillows. Blinking the weariness from his eyes he sits up and stretches his sleep-tense muscles. After pushing himself up he reaches over and digs through a semi-folded pile of clothing. He grabs a long brown skirt, an off-white peasant shirt, and a pink and orange corset decorated in assorted ties, floral patterns and a hanging bag on each side which rest on his hips. The skirt has a button clasp which covers a short slit to make room for his long thin tail.  He replaces his usual yoga with a few simple stretches, steadying his breath and attempting to ground himself. The quiet is distracting. Usually the early morning is alive with birdsong and the wind rustling leaves and his hair. He’s used to the grass tickling his feet as he meditates to the sounds of the living world. Now glass walls keep the true world away from him, cradling his carefully cultivated plants and herbs in a false grove. He flaps his hands in front of his ears, listening to the soft plaps and shifts of his fingers. It’s still too quiet.  A trap door leads down into his laboratory, full of assorted potions in glimmering glass bottles. He passes through and ducks under the door frame, heading down the stairs and making his way into the kitchen. He sets to work making breakfast, and the sounds of cooking provide immediate relief. Eggs and bacon sizzle in their pans and fill the kitchen with smells. His bare feet patter gently across the room as he moves back and forth between the stove and the table, laying out plates of eggs, meats, toast, and sliced fruits. It’s early to be cooking for the rest of his companions, but he’s always happy to warm things up if they get cold.  He starts on his own food next, deciding on some sort of vegetable stir-fry his A-Ma used to make for him. It’s made from bell peppers, green beans, baby corn, carrots, broccoli, and mushrooms all piled on a bed of white rice. A-Ma used to make it with a special sort of mushroom, little yellow ones called Russula Claroflava, but he hasn’t been able to forage them for many years.    Setting his collected ingredients on the counter, he realizes he’s got much more food than he needs. He sets to cutting anyways. The rhythmic sounds and feeling of the blade against the cutting board soothes him, grounding him in the midst of this otherwise still world.

[crossoverworldtree]

Just Out of Curiosity, What Have Buffy and Angel Been Linked Too?

Within the show’s run and in other official canon material, Buffy and Angel have had crossover links to:

The Wild Bunch, Dracula, National Lampoon’s Vacation, The Lord of the Rings, Aliens, Buckaroo Banzai, The X-Files, Evil Dead, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, Doctor Who, and Godzilla. The “Expanded Universe” Material (Dark Horse Comics before Season 8, the IDW comics, Licensed Novels) add:

Frankenstein, James Bond, The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the legendary figure of Springheel Jack, Sherlock Holmes, An American Werewolf in London, The Wolf Man, King Arthur, Zorro, The Cthulhu Mythos, Tarzan, Hellboy, Predator, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series), The Devil’s Footprints, Rosanne, Marvel Comic’s character Cytorrak (the thing that empowers The Juggernaut), Ghostbusters, the Dungeons & Dragons Multiverse, Peter David’s Fallen Angel, and Highlander: The Series. Buffy and Angel have been referenced by other series as well in the crossover sense. Those add:

Eureka, Simon R. Green’s Ghost of a Chance, Andy Barker P.I., Hack/Slash, Supernatural, Gen13, Blood and Bullets, House of the Dead 2 (movie), Marvel’s Legion of Monsters (featuring Elsa Bloodstone, Morbius the Living Vampire, N’kantu the Living Mummy, The Manphibian, Werewolf by Night, Tomb of Dracula, & Daimon Hellstrom), West Coast Avengers (featuring Kate Bishop, Clint Barton, Gwenpool, America Chavez, Quinten Quire, Fuse, Jeff the Land Shark, Madam Masque, Alloy (Ramone Watts), and Noh-Varr), and American Horror Story: Apocalypse. Those nods come in works that also reference: Carnacki: Ghostfinder, Drinking the Midnight Wing, The Monkeys’ Paw, Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter, Halfway to the Grave from the “Night Huntress” novel series, Sonja Blue, Blade (either comics or film series), Solomon Kane, and Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD. Buffy and Angel have been featured in what I like to refer to as “Megacrossover” tales as well, adding a plethora of other series to the mix. The additions include: White Zombie, The Black Coats, Arsene Lupin, Marvel’s Brother Voodoo, Child's Play, Tales of the Zombie, Revolt of the Zombies, James Bond, Angel Heart, Duke de Richleau, I Walked With a Zombie, John Thunstone, Kolchak the Night Stalker, Pirates of the Caribbean, Captian Blood, Lorna Doone, Gulliver's Travels, the works of Stephen King ("Jerusalem's Lot"), Leatherstocking Tales, Charmed, Treasure Island, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (the original short story), John Carter of Mars, The X-Files, Moby Dick, The Narrative of Arthur Gordan Pym of Nantucket, Mayfair Witches, Doc Savage, The Phantom, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, The Wild West (TV Series), Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, The Lone Ranger, Martin Hewitt, The Shadow, The Body Snatchers (the story on which Invasion of the Body Snatchers was based), L'Enigmatique Fen-Chu, Atlantida, The Exorcist, Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Stepford Wives, Young Frankenstein, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Pretender, Beauty and the Beast (1980s Television Series), Bionic Woman (original series), Modesty Blaze, Knight Rider (original Series), The Equalizer, The Nyctalope, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Three Musketeers, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Invaders (1950s Television Series), Blake and Mortimer (a Belgian comic), Sâr Dubnotal, Blithe Spirit (1941), Lensman, Simon Ark, Dark Shadows, Semi-Dual (The Occult Detector (1912)), Doctor Strange, John J. Malone, Kenneth J. Malone, Network (1976 film), I Dream of Jeannie, Northern Exposure, Jane Arden, The Continental Op, Nate Heller, Judex, Dr. Spektor, Some Like It Hot, Little Caesar, Scarface, Robin and the 7 Hoods, Dick Tracy, The Big Lebowski, Morris Klaw, Suicide Squad (Novel Series that began with Mr. Zero and the FBI Suicide Squad), Theodosia Throckmorton, John Thunstone, Fergus O'Breen, Rocket to the Morgue, Call Northside 777, "Bell, Book and Candle", Mr. Mulliner, Special Unit 2, The Quincunx of Time, Baal (of Renée Dunan's 1924 novel), Female Vampire (1975 Film), Doctor Omega (a Doctor Who pastiche), The Adventures of a Parisian Aeronaut in the Unknown Worlds, C. Auguste Dupin, Fantômas, The Merkabah Rider, Quantum Leap, Monk (TV Series), The Manitou (film), Simon of Gitta, Meaner than Hell, Kull, Conan the Barbarian, Steve Harrison, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Kung Fu, Indiana Jones, Batman, Something Wicked This Way Comes, House II: The Second Story, Winchester '73, The Quick and the Dead, Hombre, The Lone Ranger, The Pearl of Death, House of Horrors, The Brute Man, John Kirowan, Bran Mak Morn, Carmilla, World of Watches, Nosferatu, Underworld, Black Sunday, The Vampire Chronicles, Vampire City, The Black Coats, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Most Dangerous Game, The Vampyre (1819), The Count of Monte Cristo, Tombs of the Blind Dead, Lord Peter Wimsey, Waldemar Daninsky, Curse of the Crimson Altar, Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter, P. G. Wodehouse's Works, Viy, The Mummy (1932), Harry Dickenson, The Spider, Varney the Vampire, The Simpsons, Hellraiser/The Hellbound Heart, The Master Mind of Mars (part of Edgar Rice Burrough’s Mars series), The Wandering Jew’s Daughter, and She: A History of Adventure. Buffy and Angel also have two products that show up regularly in fiction.

One is Sugar Bombs or Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs, which appear in Calvin and Hobbes, Marvel’s Runaways (featuring Nico Minoru, Karolina Dean, Chase Stein, Gert Yorkes, Molly Hayes, Old Lace, Xavin. Victor Mancha, and The Swarm), and The Incredibles 2. They also show up in the videogame series Fallout, but that is most likely an alternate universe. Morley Cigarettes are the other product that has a good travel life, enough to have its own Wikipedia Page. As such, I’ll only mention a few notable cases: Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead, Murder in the First, Platoon, Psycho (1960), The World’s End (2013), 24, American Horror Story “Birth”, The Americans, Beverly Hills 90210 (1990s series), Burn Notice, Californication, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Dick Van Dyke Show, ER, Everybody Hates Chris, Friends, Heroes, Jake 2.0, Judging Amy, Justified, Lost, Malcolm in the Middle, Medium, Millennium, Mission: Impossible (TV Series), Nash Bridges, NCIS, New Amsterdam, Orange is the New Black, Pushing Daisies, Reaper, Seinfeld, Space: Above and Beyond, The Strain, That 70s Show, The Walking Dead, Twin Peaks, Warehouse 13, Weeds, System Shock 2, and The Twilight Zone “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”. Obviously, some of these would be alternate universes. Finally, there are two notable parody examples to bring up: Vampirella vs. Fluffy. Vampirella has had a LOT of crossovers, so she’s one step removed from Buffy at best, ergo, they probably met and given the tone of the comic, Vampi did not leave too happy with Buffy’s remarks about her outfit, or Willow. Big Wolf on Campus actually provides a rather respectful crossover, and all things considered, the title character likely met Faith before she came to Sunnydale if taken as a proper crossover. Totaling things up, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (and Angel) have had 10 nods to the Cthulhu Mythos, 7 crossovers with Dracula, 5 with Frankenstein and Sherlock Holmes, 4 with Ghostbusters, and 3 with Doc Savage, Solomon Kane, Evil Dead/Army of Darkness, The X-Files, and Hellboy. And all that from just Buffy and Angel. Can you imagine what you find when you got a link further than that? Or two links? Six? 

To give a hint: The Mythos can add over 200 works, Dracula 160+, 79 from Frankenstein, 17 from Ghostbusters, 24 from Hellboy, 29 from Evil Dead, and 51 from The X-Files. There is a lot of overlap, of course, but it still sets a good idea of just how big this world is. Now, all Buffy needs is a crossover with Batman, and she’ll have hit the all the major crossover series. 

[rwby-redux]

Amendment

Grimm: Threat Level Assessment

Generally speaking, the scale conceived of eight decades ago has undergone little in the way of revision. Although some archotherologists might occasionally debate the placement of a species within a category, by and large, the current rankings are uncontested. When new Grimm are discovered, a panel consisting of researchers and Huntsmen will convene to discuss and ratify its official categorization, based on rigorous criteria.

The following list contains the five recognized categories, and the Grimm species that have been filed under them.

Species Placement

Category 1: Anguilline, Attercop, Aurochs, Beowolf, Boarbatusk, Chorus Beast, Creep, Elytrap, Enfield, Felifiend, Grendel, Grimalkin, Haozhenjiu, Hartless, Juggernaut, Lagartodile, Nevermore, Ouroboa, Preying Mantis, Razorwing, Sabyr, Scapegoat, Typhang, Ursa, Userper

Category 2: Andras, Basilisk, Capyre, Centinel, Cingrenada, Cockatrice, Death Stalker, Flotsam, Galvanist, Imp, Isbjorn, Ixodida, Jackalope, Jetsam, King Taijitu, Lamentia, Lepice, Long Tongue, Mortiposa, Needleback, Pestilouse, Ravager, Rotweiler, Shryke, Stolas, Sunshorner, Trawl-Kite, Tyrant, Undertaker, Whisp, Wickhed, Wojtek

Category 3: Alabastet, Beringel, Blind Worm, Brachia, Cenitaur, Dromedon, Elegy, Gargoyle, Griffon, Hellcat, Hellhound, Hobbesgoblin, Lancer, Manticore, Marellen, Nemagi, Nightmare, Paralykeet, Peryton, Seafret, Seer, Seraph, Sphere Fisher, Sulfur Fish, Swarmer, Teryx, Tsavo, Virovultr, Warverine, Wringwyrm

Category 4: Apathy, Bandersnatch, Charybdis, Chimera, Fen Feilong, Geist, Goliath, Helion, Hydra, Megoliath, Mesmereyes, Necromancer, Sea Feilong, Sphinx, Suchian, Tempest, Terrapin, Tiamat, Ziraph

Category 5: Dreadnought, Leviathan, Monstra, Nuckelavee, Wyvern